🚶🏻♂️🚶Ask these 7 questions before traveling with another person
Plus: Travel wisdom from Randy Komisar, Lake Titicaca floating houses, and fun non-beer Munich activities
Hey friends! Welcome back to Itchy Feet, a Travel-Inspired Newsletter. I’m excited to say this publication now has 166 subscribers from 22 states and 31 countries.
Wowza! I’ve never written “wowza” before, that’s how you know I’m deeply thankful.
Your support means a lot!
Anyways, let’s get back to our semi-regularly scheduled newsletter…
In case you missed it, the last edition was an exclusive interview with one of the best travelers I know, Lieven Artels. You can read it here.
This week, let’s talk about something just as important:
Two-person travel
Many writers talk about solo travel, but two-person travel can be just as remarkable.
Two-person travel can also very a risky endeavor.
If the trip goes well, you have shared memorable experiences, countless inside jokes, and travel stories to last a lifetime.
If two-person travel goes wrong, you might lose a friend, get a divorce, and never talk to that person again.
I’ve been on both the winning and losing side of two-person travel.
In short, traveling with another person requires extra skills.
The most important skill you need is knowing yourself.
When you know your likes, preferences, and needs, choosing a travel partner becomes easier.
Also, the right filter questions can determine who would be a good (and bad) travel partner.
Here are seven important questions you should ask:
How crazy is the person?
This should be the first thing you ask (to yourself, not to the other person!) when someone wants to travel with you.
I’m going to be brutally honest: Traveling can be more fun when your travel partner is a little crazy.
Someone who doesn’t mind taking some risks and is open to spontaneity is a good partner to have.
However, they shouldn’t be crazy all the time.
Also, you don’t want to travel with someone who seems detached from reality. This is dangerous and could spell travel disaster.
If the person doesn’t pass this first question, then you don’t need to ask the rest.
How smelly is this person?
This question is a little superficial, but it’s still important to think about.
You may regret sharing a hostel room, Airbnb, or hotel room with someone who has bad hygiene.
Some people may naturally have bad breath, which they can’t help. But others have smelly breath or stinky feet because they don’t take care of themselves.
Good personal cleanliness habits will make both people happier.
How motivated is this person?
Before accepting an invitation to travel, you should know how much work the other person is willing to do.
In other words: Will they put in time to plan, figure out logistics, and book reservations? Do they want to climb the hill and sometimes take the hard route?
When one person is lazy this could plant the seeds of resentment.
What time does this person like to wake up and go to bed?
Before traveling with someone, you should know if they’re night owls or early birds. Some people are both!
Problems could arise if you have opposite sleep schedules.
How flexible is this person?
I think it’s completely fine to travel with a second person even if your interests are different.
However, you need to establish a system where you split time doing things each person likes.
It’s a red flag if one person refuses to do anything outside of their interests.
What is their relationship with money like?
Reconsider traveling if it’s like pulling teeth to get them to pay you back or if they want to split the bill when their meal was double the cost of yours.
Can I leave my wallet alone with this person?
Like any relationship, you need to have trust. Without trust, it will fail. If you aren’t sure about the safety of your personal items (and your well-being), respectively say “no” to any travel proposal.
🚀 Travel Quote of the Week
“And then there is the most dangerous risk of all—the risk of spending your life not doing what you want on the bet you can buy yourself the freedom to do it later.”
- Randy Komisar
🎏 Culture Corner
If you find yourself on Lake Titicaca in Peru and Bolivia, then a visit to the Uros Islands is a must.
The Uro people are an island culture that existed before the Inca Empire.
What’s interesting about this indigenous group is their island homes are man-made. They were constructed with layered totora reeds.
This plant commonly grows in this area. Their roofs are thatched. According to Wikipedia, a totora boat can last 25 years before water begins to sink it.
The Uro let the old boat sink, then build a new one in its place.
Originally, these reed crafts were defensive fortifications as well as dwellings.
Nowadays, these fascinating islands are used for fishing and selling beautiful handcrafts. Although the Uro used to be exclusively water-based, many of their descendants now live on the mainland.
Tourism is now one of the group’s biggest industries and visitors are welcome to experience the Uro way of life.
I had an opportunity to visit the Uro in 2013 but got sick in Puno.
However, a fellow Substacker Flavio Massignan recently visited the Uro people and wrote an interesting piece about them. His article inspired me to learn more about the Uro.
🌆 Fun Things to Do in Munich, Germany
If you’re in Germany or plan to go there next week, then consider going to Munich immediately.
The world’s biggest beer festival, Oktoberfest, is happening from September 21 to October 6 in Munich. This year is the 189th celebration.
But maybe you or the person you’re with (if doing a two-person trip) don’t drink beer.
Well, you’re in luck, my friend.
Bavaria’s capital has LOTS of activities and sites that don’t involve beer halls.
Since around six million people go to Oktoberfest each year, it’s best to check these places out when the festival isn’t happening.
Here are just a few ideas:
• Visit some city parks: Munich’s nickname is “Millionendorf,” aka the Village of a Million People. In other words, it’s normally a laid-back place.
An abundance of urban green space makes this possible. The most popular (and busiest) is the English Garden. The Nymphenburg Palace’s park feels like you’ve entered a fairy tail.
The Olympiapark lets you explore the former sites of the 1972 Olympics.
• Eat Bavarian cakes: When in Munich, you must try a prinzregententorte. This is a traditional chocolate layer cake.
According to Reddit, Café Winklstüberl is arguably the best place to try one.
• Shop at the Midnightbazar: Every Saturday you can shop for art, try vintage clothing, enjoy local snacks, and listen to good music at the Midnightbazar.
This evening flee market starts at 5 pm and ends at (you guessed it!) midnight.
• Asamkirche, a Baroque masterpiece: You can find many architecture styles throughout Munich. The Baroque style is highly prevalent and the Asamkirche church (1746) is a perfect example.
The Asam brothers explored Baroque and Rococo elements in its design. With a breathtaking ceiling and impressive fresco murals, your eyes will dance.
For an in-depth look at Oktoberfest and Munich gems, check out these article by Curiosity Saves and English First.
Thank you for reading. Another Itchy Feet edition is coming next week. Enjoy your weekend!
Much love,
-Daniel
Instagram / X / YouTube / Travel Planning
P.S. Consider working with me to plan your next adventure.
I love planning trips and thoroughly do research every week, so let’s chat. Send me a message or learn more here.
Great points for choosing a traveling partner, Daniel. I might add an eighth tip... Permit yourself to do things separately if your interests are different. Take breaks from each other when you need a break. As usual, you have lots of excellent tips for travelers. Best to you!
All great ??s, Daniel, to consider before committing to a trip with someone you might not know that well. Think sometimes it's part luck, part wisdom in choosing the proper companion for a road trip. I've been pretty lucky over the years. How about you? It seems you do all right, too.